October 13 2008 ~ "...for unknown reasons risk/benefit analysis is suggested as necessary only in case of use of MLV (modified live vaccines) vaccines"

This is one of the important points given in "Bluetongue control
strategy, including
recourse to vaccine. A critical review"
given by Vincenzo Caporale at the
23rd Conference OIE Regional Commission for Europe
16 -19 September in
Vilnius. The importance of an effective risk communication
campaign directly involving farmers, other stakeholders and politicians is particularly stressed. Since 1990 Vincenzo Caporale has been Director of Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale" (IZSA&M) in Teramo, Italy, a veterinary public health institute in Legnaro (PD) that conducts laboratory controls. The presentation is clear, colourful and very concise. Particularly appreciated is the Peanuts cartoon, illustrating the difficulty of learning the essential lessons from catastrophe. But the lessons of the past show that Bluetongue is a disease that could be eradicated in northern Europe if sufficient funds and cooperative action across the EU were forthcoming.

"Surveillance, preventive mass-vaccination and strict movement controls
are the key points IF one wants to limit BTV spread."

And for the EU at present there does seem to be a great "IF". An important point made is that "Methods to define research priority in the EU in animal health should be fully reviewed." The great danger for European livestock farming seems to be a withholding of resources for research and possibly piecemeal action as a result of ignorance about the efficacy of properly organised and funded vaccination campaigns.